Sydney
12,368 km²
Washington D.C.
177 km²
Australia
USA
Area Comparison
Sydney is 69.9x larger than Washington D.C.
Population Comparison
Sydney has 7.7x more people than Washington D.C.
Sydney is significantly larger, covering 69.9 times the area of Washington D.C.. Sydney spans 12,368 km² (4,775 mi²) while Washington D.C. covers 177 km² (68 mi²) — a difference of 12,191 km². You could fit Washington D.C. inside Sydney approximately 69 times.
To put Sydney's size in perspective, its area of 12,368 km² is about 2.0x the size of Shanghai. Meanwhile, Washington D.C. at 177 km² is roughly the same size as Washington D.C..
In more relatable units, Sydney's 12,368 km² is about 1,700,000 American football fields, 120 times the area of Paris, or 100 times the area of San Francisco. For Washington D.C., that's about 25,000 American football fields, 88 times the area of Monaco, or 52 times the area of Central Park.
Sydney is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and is the most populous city in Australia. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about 80 kilometres (50 mi) from the Pacific Ocean in the east to the Blue Mountains in the west, and about 80 kilometres (50 mi) from Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park and the Hawkesbury River in the north and north-west, to the Royal National Park and Macarthur in the south and south-west.
Known as "Sydneysiders", Sydney covers 12,368 km² with a population of 5.3 million. The city was established in 1788. Sydney is known for Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge, Bondi Beach, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the Sydney Trains.
Sydney stretches roughly 80 km from the Pacific Ocean in the east to the Blue Mountains in the west.
Washington, D.C., officially the District of Columbia and commonly known as simply Washington or D.C., is the capital city and federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River across from Virginia and shares land borders with Maryland to its north and east. It was named after George Washington, a Founding Father and the first president of the United States.
Often called "D.C.", Washington D.C. has an area of 177 km² and is home to 0.7 million people. The city dates back to 1790. Visitors come for White House, U.S. Capitol, Lincoln Memorial, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Washington Metro.
Washington D.C. sits on the Potomac River across from Virginia and is bordered by Maryland to its north and east
Looking beyond city limits, the Washington D.C. metropolitan area covers 14,412 km², which is 1.2x larger than greater Sydney at 12,368 km². The Washington D.C. metro area is also more populous, with 6.3 million people compared to 5.3 million.
Sydney has a population density of 429 people per km² — a low-density, sprawling urban area. Washington D.C., with 3,898 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Washington D.C. is dramatically more crowded, with 9.1x the population density.
This comparison spans continents — Sydney in Oceania versus Washington D.C. in North America. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Both cities share a humid subtropical climate, though local geography creates distinct microclimates in each. When it's noon in Sydney, it's midnight in Washington D.C. — a 15-hour time difference.
Size Ratio
Washington D.C. fits inside Sydney ~69 times
Density Gap
Washington D.C. is 9.1x more densely populated
Time Difference
15 hours apart
Sydney covers 12,368 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Chengdu (14,378 km²), Xi'an (10,097 km²), Melbourne (9,993 km²), Brisbane (15,826 km²), or Beijing (16,411 km²).
Washington D.C. covers 177 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Stockholm (188 km²), Brussels (161 km²), Buenos Aires (203 km²), Minneapolis (149 km²), or Helsinki (214 km²).
The straight-line distance from Sydney to Washington D.C. is 15,710 km (9,762 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~18h 59m.
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